Press Review

The 14 years that have passed since the start of the Karabakh movement saw a “dramatic rise in our collective self-consciousness and its equally drastic decline,” writes “Hayots Ashkhar.” The transition from socialism to capitalism made mass impoverishment and social polarization “almost inevitable.” “Such a society could no longer rally around even the most sacred national idea. It could only be consolidated by a state that harmonizes and reconciles differing interests.” That state has yet to come into existence. So the main lesson to be learned from the post-Soviet history, according to “Hayots Ashkhar,” is for Armenians to stop blaming others for their misfortunes.

“Iravunk” says that as next year’s elections approach the country will see more and more “landmines exploding in the political field.” This would dent the already bleak prospects for the establishment of the rule of law. The paper also questions the official preliminary results of the October census, saying that the authorities have deliberately inflated the size of Armenia’s population to be able to manipulate election results. It says the circulation of a new government bill on mass media is also part of that effort.

Justice Minister David Harutiunian’s latest comments on the controversial bill are construed by “Haykakan Zhamanak” as the acknowledgement of the fact that the government is “moving single-mindedly towards closure of several media outlets before the 2003 elections.” The paper is sure that the parliament will rubber stamp the legislation. “After passage of that law Armenia will become a dictatorship,” it warns.

“Azg” reports that the Israeli foreign ministry has replied to the note of protest from Yerevan saying that while recognizing “the tragedy of the Armenian people” Israel does not believe it was a genocide. The paper accuses Israel of “playing dirty political games” aimed at wooing Turkey.

“The Israeli ambassador was well aware of how the Armenian public will react to her statements,” writes “Golos Armenii.” “And that stance can not be simply explained by the Turkish-Israeli strategic relationship. Regardless of the external political situation, the Israeli leadership has always been jealous about the application of the concept of genocide to other peoples. It must realize that others too can be equally sensitive to the tragic pages of their own history.”

“Aravot” is worried that the Armenian outcry over the Israeli ambassador’s threatens to descend into anti-Semitism. It says Israel is not the only country in the world that refuses to recognize the genocide. “The most dangerous thing is to blame everything on the Jews rather than the United States or Israel, political or economic interests…As a rule, genocides are given birth by this kind of judgment.”